Whitby proposes tech incubator - Sparking innovation

NRU
March 8, 2017
By Leah Wong

The Town of Whitby is moving ahead with plans for an innovation hub and incubator in its downtown so it becomes a magnet for techsavvy young people and jobs.

“Downtown Whitby is a really interesting place and there is a lot going on there,” Whitby mayor Don Mitchell told NRU. “We think it will be attractive to the demographic that will support this kind of tech-ecosystem.”

On Monday Whitby’s operations committee heard a presentation on the proposed Whitby Innovation Hub, proposed as a not-for-profit organization supported by the town and the private sector. Its mandate would be to assist small and medium-sized companies and start-ups to develop new market-ready technologies and products.

Under discussion is a possible a public-private partnership with 360insights, a Whitby-based software and data management company. Its CEO, Jason Atkins, has expressed interest in investing in the formation of the hub and to provide financing for tech start-ups over the next three years.

360insights is set to start renovations on the former R.A. Sennett public school and will eventually consolidate its company headquarters at the former school. The proposed location of the innovation hub is across the street from the school, on the site of the former Land Registry Office.

The support of industry leaders like Atkins is considered crucial for the success of this project, according to the mayor.

“These innovation systems have to be led by the innovators, you have to have key people who are respected as leaders who want to do this and that people want to be mentored by,” said Mitchell. He said the tech industry considers Whitby as an attraction location because of its affordability and proximity to Toronto. The proximity of postsecondary institutions including Durham College and UOIT also contributes to the creation of a skilled workforce.

The innovation hub is part of the town’s plans to create a vibrant, urban downtown.

Mitchell said that the town needs to address the historic, systemic barriers to investment in the downtown so applicants don’t face unnecessary barriers. He cites issues related to financing of redevelopment projects and the need to update planning policies, such as parking minimums, to suit an urban environment.

“Whitby is going to be 200,000 people in 25 years. We can call ourselves a town forever, but we’re getting to be a large, urban environment and our downtown core has to be fully urban,” said Mitchell. “We shouldn’t be looking at what they’re doing in [places like] Bowmanville and Port Perry. [Your standard] should be what they are doing on Queen Street West....That’s the kind of environment people want to see in a downtown.” Mitchell said Whitby has learned from the example of other municipalities, including the Town of Newmarket, that use financial incentives and beautification projects to encourage new development in the downtown core.

“Newmarket has tracked their data and outcomes. Now they can report that this isn’t just a nostalgic ‘I love downtown’ [project],” said Mitchell. “They’ve measured the hard data on the benefits they’ve received in terms of jobs and assessment growth-the direct return on investment.”